The Emperor addressed a few remarks to the Meeting in acknowledgment of the cordial welcome with which he had been received; speaking in French. He said he took great interest in the objects cultivated by the Royal Geographical Society, and being a constant reader and admirer of English literature, had always attentively followed the proceedings of this as well as other scientific Societies of England. On this account he had gratefully availed himself of the opportunity afforded him of being present at one of the Meetings of the learned bodies of this great metropolis. Personally he thanked Sir Henry Rawlinson for the kind manner in which he had spoken, and said that the great philological attainments of the President, and his interpretations of Assyrian and other ancient inscriptions had long been well known to him. He expressed also his deep regret at the illness of their former Presi dent, Sir Roderick Murchison, for whom he entertained the highest admiration, and whose career he had so long watched. He hoped that Sir Roderick might recover his health, and be able to come among them once more. Mr. C. R. Markham then read a paper on "The Races of the Peruvian Andes, and on the Communication between the Andes and the Atlantic." The portion of the paper relating to the Incas and other civilized tribes of the Andes, was an abstract of a more extended work in which the fruits of original research into all the best authorities on the subject was given, and which will be published, with a new map of the Peruvian Andes, in the "Journal" of the Society. In speaking of the many navigable streams flowing from the fertile regions at the foot of the Andes to the Atlantic, Mr. Markham dilated on the immense benefits conferred on science, commerce, and civilization, by the liberal act of the Brazilian Government in 1867, opening the Amazons to the ships of all nations. A discussion followed the reading of the paper: the speakers being the Earl of Derby, Captain Sherard Osborn, Mr. Isidore Gerstenberg, Mr. Howard, Mr. F. F. Searle (Medical Officer to the Peruvian Establishments on the Upper Amazons), and Mr. H. W. Bates. The Earl of Derby said that, although he had been in South America, he had not the good fortune to have set his foot on Brazilian soil. No one who had not beheld the scenery of this magnificent continent could fully understand the glory and beauty of nature. It was our duty to be on good terms with all nations, if they would let us, and there were good reasons why Brazil and England should be on the best of terms. Each country possessed what the other wanted, and each wanted what the other possessed. We possessed enormous capital and skilled labour, practically unlimited. Brazil, on the other hand, possessed an extensive territory, with small capital and a scanty population, and with vast undeveloped resources. Our function was to supply capital and labour, and the function of Brazil was to utilize the capital and labour so supplied. Brazil was a wide and suitable field for emigration, and the climate in many parts was suitable for Europeans. There was a time when England and Brazil had some diplomatic differences, but those differences had been for ever set at rest; and there was now no reason, either socially, politically, or economically, why the two countries should not have relations with each other of the most friendly and cordial character. LENGTHENING SCREW STEAMERS. THE operation of lengthening screw steamers has been for some time past most successfully performed at Granton by Messrs. Hawthorn and Co. The vessels are placed on the slip in the usual way, and in the course of a day or two are cut in two and drawn apart to the requisite length. The space between them is then built up, and in a few weeks the vessel is again ready for sea. The steamship Garrison, the last vessel lengthened in this manner, which is now about to sail from Granton to Constantinople, was made thirty-one feet longer. This has increased her carrying power from 950 to 1280 tons without diminishing her speed, or rendering a larger crew necessary. The advantage thus gained to owners whose vessels and trade require the outlay is equal, in the case of the Garrison, to a new steamer of 350 tons, without the great expense of engines, coal, or crew. Among the steamers which belong to Leith which have been similarly altered, are the Orient, Dwina, Vistula, Verona, Warsaw, Edina, Stirling, Headquarters, Oscar, etc. 43.-Adriatic-Soseno Island-A revolving light is now exhibited 328 feet above the sea on Saseno Island, off Avlona Bay, in lat. 40° 30′ N., long. 19° 13′ E. Adriatic-Curzola Channel-Sorelle Rock.-A fixed white light of the sixth order, 60 feet above the sea is exhibited on this rock. Tower square and white. Adriatic-Quarnero Gulf-Point St. Andrew.-A fixed light showing white between the bearings S.W. by W., by West, to N. W., and red from the latter bearing to N.E. by E., 40 feet above the sea, is now exhibited on Point St. Andrew, Port Rabaz, in the Canale di Forisina. 44. Suez Canal.-The following additional information has been published for the guidance of mariners using the Canal: Port Said.-No material change affecting navigation, has taken place in the approach since the survey made in 1870, with the exception, that the detached bank lying 13 miles to the eastward of the entrance has almost disappeared, the depth over it having increased from 12 and 14 to 20 feet, the buoy marking it has in consequence been removed. At Port Ibrahim, the main entrance of the docks and a considerable portion of the north basin has been dredged to 24 feet. Suez Canal.-By the regulations of the Canal Company all vessels are required to have a head and stern anchor ready for letting go, also hawsers for warps; and all vessels measuring over 100 tons are bound to take a pilot. The deepest water is, in all cases, in the centre of the canal; in passing through, it is therefore more a question of careful steerage to keep the ship exactly in the centre, than of pilotage, and it is probable that the commander will be better acquainted with the behaviour of his own vessel than the pilot who is a stranger to her. In the broad portions, particularly in the south part of the Bitter lake, where the shallow water bears a large proportion to the deeper channel, great care is required in the navigation. Between Port Said and Kantara the depth of water that can be relied on at present, is 23 and 24 feet, and patches of the same depth are found in other parts of the canal, but wherever these patches occur a dredge is always at work in the vicinity. The channel through Lake Timsah is completed to 27 and 28 feet, and the dredging of the anchorage space on the lake will shortly be commenced. Mooring bollards at a cable apart are fixed in the banks; they will bear sufficient strain to cant the largest ship. In the event of getting hard aground, the best shore anchor is found to be a spar buried horizontally on the inner side of the bank with perpendicular planks in front, the hawser being led through a cutting. The iron beacons on the several lakes are placed 136 feet on either side of the centre of the deep water in the channel. In passing round a curve in the canal, the bow of the vessel should be kept as near the inner or convex side as possible, and previous to rounding, the engines of steam vessels should be stopped, that she may pass it at the slowest speed. The only serious damage which vessels are liable to sustain in passing through the canal is from the propeller coming in contact with the bank, it is necessary therefore, in any class of vessel, to proceed at slow speed, and large ships may find it advantageous to avail themselves of the services of the Company's tugs in preference to using their own screws. When the wind blows across the canal care must be taken to prevent the ship drifting to leeward, and all unavailable top gear that will hold wind should be sent down. It would be preferable to stop and secure to the bollards rather than to risk damaging the screw by using it near the lee bank. Suez.-At the mouth of Suez creek allowance should be made for the strong tidal current which sets across the canal, and frequently in the contrary direction of the current in the canal. The tidal stream between Suez and Chalouf turns to the northward 2 hours before high water at Suez, and runs for 7 hours. It commences to run south one hour before low water at Suez, and continues 5 hours. At full and change of moon the tidal stream runs north from 9h. 30m. to 4h. 30m., and south from 4h. 30m. to 10h. Om. It has been recommended that this portion of the canal should bo navigated with an opposing tide. 45. Elizabeth Reef, off the East Coast of Australia. The Colonial Government of New South Wales has given Notice, that a life-boat, to aid shipwrecked crews, has been moored in the lagoon of Elizabeth reef. This dangerous coral reef, which has proved fatal to many vessels, lies at a distance of 350 miles from the Coast of Australia; it is oval shaped, nearly 5 miles long in an East and West direction, and 23 miles broad. The edges of the reef, with the exception of a few rocks, are covered at high water. The entrance to the lagoon, on the north-east side, is in lat. 29° 55′ S., long. 159° 6' E. The following information has been published for the guidance of seamen. This boat is placed for the purpose of succouring those wrecked on the reef; it is provided with necessary articles for making a voyage to the Australian continent, including provisions, medical stores, chart and compass, etc. Six casks of fresh water (each containing 15 gallons) are fitted as ballast as well as for use. It is requested that the following instructions be observed, viz. :— That shipwrecked mariners will write a detailed account of their disaster, with the names of the survivors and those lost, also the place they intend to make for; this document is to be deposited in the nunbuoy and left floating at the moorings. Navigators visiting the boat are requested to leave a report of their visit, with such intelligence as they may wish to communicate. If bound direct to an adjacent port, they are requested to forward any reports that may be found in the nun-buoy. 46. England-East Coast-Filey Bay.-A black Bell buoy with staff and globe, has been substituted for the black can buoy off the extremity of Filey Brig. 47. China Sea-Carimata Strait.-Information has been received of the discovery of two banks, viz. :-Willem Bank in lat. 3° 52′ 40′′ S., long. 109° 42′ 40′′ E., is about half a mile in extent north and south and about a cable broad, it has 3 fathoms water on it and 6 to 8 fathoms close to. Condor Bank, struck on by the ship Condor, lies N. by E. E., 8 miles from Nangka island, in lat. 2° 22' 20" S., long. 108° 37′ 15′′ E. Bengal Bay-Savage Island Light.—This light, at the entrance of Akyab harbour, has been altered to a fixed and flashing white light, showing a flash every minute. CHARTS, ETC., PUBLISHED BY THE HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE, ADMIRALTY, IN JULY, 1871. Scale, inches. No. 0.16 Korean Archipelago, Southern Portion, with - 0.25 Views Mediterranean-Cape Bougarini to the Fratelli 8. d. 26 26 |